Research Assistant (Data Analyst) - VCFG

Date: 14 Jan 2025

Site: VCCC (Parkville)

Location:

MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000

Company: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Unit: Core VCFG

Division: Cancer Research

Department: Laboratory Research

Enterprise Agreement: Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sect

Core VCFG

At Peter Mac we aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting and retaining top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.

YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE

Junior Postdoc / Senior Research Assistant in Image and Data Analysis at VCFG

12-month Fixed-Term, Full-Time position
80 hours per fortnight with monthly ADO's

The Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics (VCFG) is a core technology platform embedded within the Peter Mac Cancer Research Division and serves as a national technological hub that enables innovative research in high throughput screening strategies, including CRISPR, compound, and RNAi methodologies.

We are seeking a dynamic Junior Postdoc or Senior Research Assistant to augment our data and image analysis capabilities within the VCFG team. This role offers the opportunity to engage in state-of-the-art research operations, encompassing both 2D and 3D screening environments, and to work alongside a dedicated team of seasoned Research Officers and Assistants. Your primary focus will be to strengthen our image and data analysis infrastructure.

You will ideally have an Honours or Masters degree and up to 6 years experience, with a proactive learning attitude, strong trouble shooting skills, clear written and oral communication skills and most importantly, a willingness to learn and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team.

This role is ideal for an individual who loves working with data, is keen to develop in a cutting-edge scientific environment, and who brings a sense of enthusiasm and dedication to their work. If you're eager to contribute to a nationally recognized service of excellence, we'd love to hear from you. This is 12-month position (in the first instance). Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience - Level A (1RA4 - 1RA10).

Key Responsibilities:

Contribute to projects involving large high-throughput screens with compounds, siRNA and CRISPR, as well as smaller projects in 2D and 3D (e.g. synergy, cell cycle analyses, patient-derived organoids, etc).
Data analysis using R/Python, including the interpretation of outcomes of analyses, and writing of QC reports.
Image analysis using CellProfiler, CellPose, and Cellomics analysis software.
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality research outputs.

Applicants to this role should provide a covering letter, resume and response to selection criteria outlining relative key skills and experience to assist us with our assessment.

For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.

Hiring Manager: Professor Kaylene Simpson
Email: kaylene.simpson@petermac.org

Applications Close: 5th February 2025
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Position Summary

The position requires a dynamic Junior Postdoc or Senior Research Assistant to augment our data and image analysis capabilities within the VCFG team. This role offers the opportunity to engage in state-of-the-art research operations, encompassing both 2D and 3D screening environments, and to work alongside a dedicated team of seasoned Research Officers and Assistants. Your primary focus will be to strengthen our image and data analysis infrastructure to provide day to day analytical support to researchers utilising the services of the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics. You will perform image analyses of 2D and 3D samples derived from high-throughput screens, analyse the imaging data using R with existing workflowR pipelines and support the other analysts in the development of new analytical capabilities.

Enterprise Agreement

Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2021 - 2026

Classification or Salary Range

Level A (1RA4 - 1RA10)

Immunisation Risk Category

Immunisation Category C

Key Relationships

Position Reports to
Direct: Professor Kaylene Simpson

Key Relationships

Internal	Supervisor: Prof Kaylene Simpson Karla Cowley and other VCFG staff Other Research laboratory staff and students Core Research facilities staff Other Peter Mac staff and students
External	Staff from other research institutes involved in screening projects within VCFG External collaborators Suppliers

Skills

Selection Criteria

Essential Requirements

Degree or diploma in biological sciences, data sciences and/or bioinformatics, preferably with a minimum Honours or Master's degree in a relevant field.
Up to 6 years of experience in data analysis, scientific research, or related areas
Experience and skills in R and/or Python is a must (required packages include but are not limited to dplyr, tidyverse, workflowR, caret, ggplot)
Familiarity with microscopy image analysis
Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
High quality written and oral communication skills
High level of interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Confidentiality when discussing projects

Desirable Requirements

Experience and skills in image analysis software such as CellProfiler
Experience in working under the FAIR data principles
Background in cancer research
Experience in wet-lab scientific methods or high-throughput screening
Experience with Machine Learning-based analysis methods

Key Accountabilities

Key Accountabilities	Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators
1. Provide high quality technical support	Excellent coding and analytical skills Accurate analysis and interpretation of data Excellent documentation of code, methods, results, and conclusions Willingness to learn Careful, accurate and timely record keeping Hard working with high level work ethic High level of integrity and ethics Ability to work with limited supervision
2. Communication of research outcomes	Clear communication of weekly activities to ensure all team members know ongoing operations Participation in lab meetings Effective and accurate record keeping Development of SOPs, and new analysis pipelines Engagement with collaborating research teams
3. Foster a good working relationship with colleagues	The VCFG is a service provision core platform, therefore you must be able to: work in a team environment meet the needs of other researchers under pressure establish good working relationships with the team and all researchers using the facility

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Peter Mac requires its staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this requirement.

WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC

Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.